For an entire weekend, the Fondation Thalie will be showcasing its new space at the fully renovated 1920s house in Brussels, with the first projects by visiting artists: Grace Ndiritu (UK/Kenya), Louise Hervé & Chloé Maillet (France) and Elena Mazzi (Italy), along with the future activities of the foundation. The artists Alex Cecchetti (Italy), Rachel Monosov (Russia) and Julien Creuzet (France) will be presenting a performance to mark the occasion.
As an artist’s residency devoted to innovation and engagement in the public sphere, the Fondation Thalie is both an incubator and a platform for the production and dissemination of work that resonates with contemporary social issues.
Program of the Weekend
A performance program will be proposed in the house still under construction during a whole week-end on the occasion of the pre-opening.
SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER FROM 11:30 TO 20:30*
11:30 Presentation of Fondation Thalie and its residency by Nathalie Guiot, in the presence of the artists in residence: Louise Hervé & Chloé Maillet (France), Elena Mazzi (Italy) and Grace Ndiritu (UK/Kenya)
12:30 Energy balls and fresh juices, offered by Upper Organic
14:00 Nuovo Mondo, a guided tour of both paradise and hell (1h) by Alex Cecchetti (Italy) with special guests: New Noveta (UK/Sweden)
Nuovo Mondo is a guided tour of both paradise and hell, a walk through a still empty house, through the exhibition space, the library, the workshops in progress and the guest rooms, all the way up to the rooftop of the house; it is an encounter with a unique domestic architecture and an artists’ residence, punctuated by contemporary poetic interventions with a touch of humour by Alex Cecchetti. The duo New Noveta will present two short performances Slightest Slope as part of Nuovo Mondo, and will be accompanied by a sound piece in collaboration with London based musician Vindicatrix.
As a visual artist, poet and choreographer, Alex Cecchetti creates interactive performances. He draws his inspiration from literature, philosophy, science and music with a strong sense of humour and play. Whether it is a stand-up comedy show on death, a backwards stroll through the botanical gardens or a ‘visit to the Louvre without the Louvre’, each of his works is an experience that is richly shared by a community.
New Noveta is the collaborative project of London based artists Ellen Freed and Keira Fox. Embodying urgent expressions of corporately stigmatized emotions, through grueling tasks, channeling high levels of anxiety and despair, their performances are multi disciplinary, combining sound production, props for live installation, costume and body action/dance.
16:00 Transcultural Protocol, performance (1h) by Rachel Monosov (Russia) and Admire Kamudzengerere (Zimbabwe), Live music by: INRA (Philipp Rhensius & Adam Ben-Nun)
What at first seems to be our profound difference has become our connection, linking our understanding of humanity. And what if we forgot how to dance? Forgot rhythm, movement? And what if all the pieces were jumbled up to the point that it was no longer possible to answer the question ’who are you’? Your past has vanished and you have little concern for the future. Does dance represent the moment?
Combining photography, video, performance and sculpture, the Russian born artist Rachel Monosov takes inspiration for her artistic practice from notions of cultural alienation, belonging, gender and identity. Monosov earned two Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium (2014-2016). Her works have been exhibited at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (2016) and the Dhondt-Dhaenens Museum, Belgium (2017).
INRA are Adam Ben-Nun & Philipp Rhensius: an attempt to bend time, shape worlds and vaporize hyperreal surroundings. By using a just intonation guitar, drums, field recordings and text, they conjure a viscous yet danceable, meditative yet nervous sound. Drawing from clubmusic, free impro, drone and dub, they exhale an alienated ontology, haunted by the presence of the real and memories of the future.
18:00 Ciel Ara – Amalia Fri Masson, performed reading (30min) by Julien Creuzet (France) *
Julien Creuzet lived in Martinique, crossroads of African, European and Indian civilizations. From these Caribbean origins comes a recurrent identity search in his works. Moving away from an anthropocentrist approach his process integrates the animal and plant environment. It claims a kind of syncretism, where cross references to animistic cults, the Christian religion, French identity, and so on. Playing with the clichés and distinctive characteristics of Creole history, he draws from it an enriching artistic approach that has emancipated itself from its roots. His last pieces have become ensembles, an archipelic world made up of sculptures, installations, videos in conversation with each other.
19:00 Drink and canapés
SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER FROM 11:30 TO 18:00*
11:30 Presentation of Fondation Thalie and its residency by Nathalie Guiot, in the presence of the artists in residence: Louise Hervé & Chloé Maillet (France), Elena Mazzi (Italy) and Grace Ndiritu (UK/Kenya)
12:30 Energy balls and fresh juices, offered by Upper Organic, Music session by Mika de Brito
Mika de Brito has been teaching yoga for the past 15 years in France and abroad. As the founder of Yogalab and Tout Ça Pour Ça, and co-founder of the yoga festival BLISS, Mika regularly leads classes in Paris and organises workshops and retreats in France and worldwide.
14:00 Nuovo Mondo, a guided tour of both paradise and hell (1h) by Alex Cecchetti (Italy) with special guests: New Noveta (UK/Sweden)
16:00 Transcultural Protocol, 2017, performance (1h) by Rachel Monosov (Russia) and Admire Kamudzengerere (Zimbabwe), Live music by: INRA (Philipp Rhensius & Adam Ben-Nun)
18:00 End of the weekend
* Free access on reservation, places are limited, please confirm your attendance by e-mail: event@fondationthalie.org
With the support of
